Greater New Orleans

New Orleans Pelicans power forward Arinze Onuaku picks up a loose ball against the Miami Heat during the second half of a preseason game at the New Orleans Arena on Wednesday night.
(David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Whenever
the conversation has turned to turnovers, a pained expression has grown on the
face of New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams.

That
look likely won't be leaving anytime soon.

The
Pelicans continued to be plagued by their own troublesome turnover bug Wednesday, as their careless ballhandling was one of the biggest culprits in
their 108-95 loss to the two-time defending champion Miami Heat in a preseason
game at the New Orleans Arena.

The
Pelicans turned the ball over 24 times, a number that once again drew the ire
of Williams. The Heat scored 21 points off the Pelicans' mistakes.

"A lot of our passes tonight weren't crisp," Williams said. "That comes from a lack of being familiar with your teammates and where they are going to be. Sometimes I thought we passed to space as opposed to passing to a guy that was open, or we pass as a second option as opposed to passing right away when the guy's open.

"To me it's a number of things. One is just basketball and two is knowing who you're playing with and understanding that that team will make you pay if you do that."

The
Pelicans came into Wednesday's game averaging 18 turnovers, but they already
had reached that mark by the time the third quarter had ended.

And
the culprits were many, as eight different players had at least two turnovers,
led by five from point guard Jrue Holiday, who now has committed 34 turnovers
in seven games.

EVANS HELD OUT: The sprained left ankle
of Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans kept him out of Wednesday's game.

Evans
had hoped he'd be able to return against the Heat, but he said Wednesday morning
that Friday's preseason finale at Orlando is a more realistic date.

Since
spraining his ankle, Evans has been able to participate on a limited basis in
practice. But he has missed the last six exhibition games.

"I
practiced the other day," Evans said. "It felt pretty good, but afterwards it
was a little sore. I got hit in the spot a couple times. That's basketball.
Coach just said sit this one out and get ready for Orlando."

Evans,
one of the Pelicans' prize offseason acquisitions, hasn't played since
suffering the injury in the second quarter of the preseason opener at Houston
on Oct. 5.

SPOELSTRA IMPRESSED: Add Heat coach
Erik Spoelstra to the growing list of players and coaches who have noticed the
improved play of Pelicans second-year power forward Anthony Davis.

Davis,
who entered Wednesday night's game averaging a team-high 22 points, 6.3
rebounds, two blocks and 1.83 steals, recently was selected by the NBA's
general managers as the player most likely to have a breakout season.

"He
looks like a totally different player," Spoelstra said. "There's just a time
when a big guy gets it. He's so gifted, intelligent and ready to become the
player everyone expected."

RENOVATION REACTION: Pelicans forward
Ryan Anderson said he was impressed with the first phase of the $50 million renovations
made to the New Orleans Arena.

Among
the many upgrades at the remodeled Arena are a 12,000 square foot
Chairman's Club and a luxurious new dressing room.

"It's
great," Anderson said following the team's Wednesday morning shootaround. "I
was pretty excited about it waking up this morning and just seeing the changes.
Our locker room was amazing. From what it was to where we are now, it just
seems like we are in a completely different environment.

"It's
great, great, great facilities we have. They've done such a good job of
renovating everything it kinda motivates us to continue to work hard and fight
and win for this city because obviously (Pelicans owner) Mr. (Tom) Benson has
put so much into us and this city has put so much into us we just want to come
through for them."

ODEN SIGHTING: Often-injured Heat
center Greg Oden, who contemplated signing with the Pelicans this offseason
before ultimately picking Miami, made his preseason debut.

It
was Oden's first NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009. He's returning from his third
career microfracture knee surgery, with the latest coming in February 2012.

In
four minutes, Oden scored two points and had two rebounds.

"We are just so pleased for him," Spoelstra said. "His face lit up when I told him I was going to put him in the game. He was prepared for it. He has been making steady progress. It was just great seeing him do something that he loves to do. It was taken away from him for four years. We just continue to make steady, patient progress forward from here."

OPEN PRACTICE: The Pelicans will host a
free open practice Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New Orleans Arena.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Williams will wear a microphone during the practice session to give
fans some insight into the coach's perspective.

Lots
2 and 3 will be open for free parking.

UP NEXT: The Pelicans close out
preseason when they travel to Orlando to play the Magic at 6 p.m. on Friday.

The
Pelicans open the regular season Oct. 30 against the Indiana Pacers at the New
Orleans Arena.